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1.
In this study, effects of grazing‐experienced heifer presence on foraging behavior development at the feeding station (FS) scale for first‐grazing season calves were determined. A group of four calves grazing alone (C), and another comprising four calves (Wc) and three grazing‐experienced heifers (Wh), were alternately stocked every day for 2 h on the same pasture for 26 days. The foraging time budget for Wc was significantly longer than that for C (P < 0.05) on day 7, and was similar to that for Wh on all days. Bite rate per FS was significantly higher for Wc (15.5 bite/min) than for C (13.2 bite/min) from day 1 to 14 (33.4 vs. 29.0 bite/min, respectively; P < 0.01) and significantly lower than that for Wh on all days. The number of steps taken between adjacent FSs by Wc (4.7) was significantly lower than that for C (7.2) on days 1 and 14 (2.1 vs. 2.9 steps, respectively; P < 0.01) and was similar to Wh on all days. This suggests that grazing‐experienced heifers have positive effects on the foraging behavior development of new‐season grazing calves through 14 days after the start of stocking.  相似文献   

2.
The study was conducted to assess the effects of seasonal variation in the quality and quantity of pasture and management of livestock exclosures (ngitili) on the grazing behavior of cattle and goats. The study was 2×2×2 factorial design with three independent variables: season (Dry or Rainy), ngitili management (Private or Communal) and animal species (Cattle or Goats). Focal and scan observation methods were used to record different behavioral activities. Vegetation attributes from the study areas were measured in two consecutive seasons. Most key forage species had significant higher crude protein (CP) content and in vitro organic matter digestibility (INVOMD) in rainy than in dry season (P<0.05), but Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) did not vary significantly with season (P>0.05). ADF and NDF were significantly higher in species from communal ngitili than those from private ngitili (P<0.05). Above-ground herbaceous biomass and bulk density (BD) were significantly higher in the rainy season and in the private ngitili than in the dry season and in the communal ngitili respectively. Cattle and goats spent considerably more time grazing and browsing respectively in the rainy season than in the dry season (P<0.05). Cattle foraging activities did not vary significantly (P>0.05) with ngitili management, but goats found to spend considerably more time browsing in the communal ngitili and more time grazing in the private ngitili (P<0.05). Despite the merits of stocking cattle and goats together in the heterogeneous pasture, seasonal variation in forage resources requires investigation of other strategies such as use of multipurpose trees and treatment of crop residues to improve livestock production.  相似文献   

3.
Forest‐grazing enables the intake of high total antioxidant capacity (TAC) plants that might be beneficial for the TAC status of cattle. This study evaluated the relation between the seasonal foraging patterns of forest‐grazing Japanese Black (JB) heifers or the TAC levels in shrubs and trees and the changes of plasma TAC. We examined 12 JB heifers, four each of which were allocated to forest‐grazing (F), pasture‐grazing, and pen‐housed groups. The plasma TAC level in F heifers on July 26, August 13, 30 and September 17 were significantly higher than those on April 27 and June 4 (P < 0.05). In F group, the mean rates of foraging frequency (FF) of shrubs and trees during July 5–8 and September 13–16 were much higher than that during May 31–June 3 (P < 0.05). The rate of FF of grass significantly decreased later in the season (P < 0.05). The mean TAC levels in these shrubs and trees were higher than those in grasses, concentrates, and timothy hay. Results suggest that an important factor in the increase of plasma TAC in forest‐grazing cattle might be the increased foraging of TAC‐rich shrubs and trees during summer–fall.  相似文献   

4.
A 2-yr study was conducted to confirm that managed pastures can provide Holstein steers adequate P to meet their daily requirement. Treatments offered were trace mineralized salt with or without additional P. In the first year, 80 Holstein steers (248 kg of BW) were assigned to 4 grazing groups. Treatments were trace mineralized salt only or a 67:33 mixture of trace mineralized salt and dicalcium phosphate. Steers rotationally grazed a cool-season grass/legume mixture for 137 d. Fecal bags were placed on 3 steers from each grazing group (n = 12) over a 4-d period for estimation of forage DMI and forage contribution to daily P intake twice during the grazing season. Analyzed pasture samples contained 3.28 mg of P/g of DM. During the second year, 72 Holstein steers (297 kg of BW) were blocked into 2 BW groups and subsequently assigned to 1 of 4 pasture groups. Steers rotationally grazed the same forage base as the first year for 126 d. Pasture samples contained 3.27 mg of P/g of DM. No significant differences (P > 0.10) were detected for BW, ADG, or free-choice supplemental mineral intake. Forage provided 126% of the recommended NRC P requirement. Thus, supplemental phosphorous was not required for Holstein steers grazing mixed, cool-season, grass/legume pastures.  相似文献   

5.
To establish the effect of sward height (SH) and concentrate supplementation on performance of grazing cattle, 24 crossbred Angus beef cows (535 kg BW) and calves (114 kg BW) were grouped by weight and calving date. They were randomly assigned to two SH treatments, either 4 to 8 cm or 8 to 11 cm, and fed three levels of supplement, high, low, or none, consisting of 6.24, 3.12, and 0 kg x animal(-1) x d(-1), respectively. The experiment was repeated over three 15-d periods in 1996: May (P1), June/July (P2), and August (P3). No SH x supplement level x period or SH x supplement level interactions (P > 0.10) were evident for responses tested. Cows on lower SH had greater (P < 0.08) DMI but spent an additional 1.3 h/d (P < 0.01) grazing compared with cows on higher SH. Sward height had no influence (P > 0.10) on forage DM digestibility (DMD). Forage DMI, DMD, and grazing time (GT) decreased (P < 0.05) as supplementation increased. Nonetheless, supplemented cows consumed more total DMI (P < 0.08) than unsupplemented cows. Cows consumed 2.4 kg/d more forage DM (P < 0.01) in P1 and P2 than in P3. Cows grazed 1.3 h/d (P < 0.01) less in P1 than in P2 and P3. Grazing efficiency (DMI/h GT) declined as supplementation increased and grazing season advanced to P3 (P < 0.01). Decreased forage DMI and grazing efficiency with increasing supplementation suggests that supplemented cattle should be able to maintain productivity while grazing at SH lower than unsupplemented cattle.  相似文献   

6.
Kikuyu pastures at the Ukulinga research farm near Pietermaritzburg were fertilized with 150 and 300 kg nitrogen (N) ha?1 in the summer periods of 1985–86 and 1986–87, and were continuously grazed with steers at stocking rates of 5.4, 8.0 and 10.7 steers ha?1. In the second season the high N level pasture was also grazed under 12‐paddock rotational grazing at stocking rates of 5.4, 8.0 and 13.4 steers ha?1. In the first season the high N level provided higher (P≤0.05) animal weight gains, but there was no difference between N levels in animal weight gain during the second season. Rotational grazing provided higher weight gains than continuous grazing in the second season. The increased weight gains obtained from high N fertilization and rotational grazing were probably caused by higher forage availability rather than higher forage quality.  相似文献   

7.
To establish the effect of sward height, concentrate feeding time, and restricted time for grazing on forage utilization by grazing cattle, 32 crossbred beef (24 Angus and eight Hereford) cows (632 kg BW) and calves (104 kg BW) were grouped by weight and calving date. They were assigned randomly to two sward height treatments (4 to 8 or 8 to 12 cm), replicated four times. The herbage comprised mainly Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, some forbs, and white clover. The cows were restricted to 12 h/d grazing (0700 to 1900) or unrestricted to 24 h/d grazing and fed a concentrate supplement (4.1 kg DM.cow(-1).d(-1), approximately 0.65% of BW or 33% of total DMI) either at 0700 or 1800. The experiment was repeated over three 15-d periods in May, June/July, and August 2000. The herbage on high sward height pasture was higher (P = 0.06) in NDF and ADF and lower (P < 0.01) in CP than low sward height herbage. For cows restricted to 12 h/d grazing, supplementing at 0700 as opposed 1800 resulted in greater (P = 0.04) forage DMI (8.6 vs. 8.1 kg/d), whereas cows that were unrestricted showed little change (8.2 kg/d at 0700 vs. 8.4 kg/d at 1800). Supplementing at 1800 as opposed to 0700 resulted in greater (P = 0.03) herbage DM digestibility (67.7 vs. 64.5%) for cows on high sward height, whereas cows on low sward height exhibited minimal differences (65.4% at 1800 vs. 66.3% at 0700). Cows restricted to 12 h/d grazing and supplemented at 0700 as opposed to 1800 resulted in greater (P = 0.06) digestible DMI (5.0 vs. 4.7 kg/d), whereas unrestricted cows exhibited the opposite response (4.6 kg/d digestible DMI at 0700 vs. 4.9 kg/d at 1800). Supplementing at 1800 as opposed to 0700 increased the time spent grazing to a greater (P = 0.09) extent for restricted than for unrestricted cows. When forage availability or grazing time was limiting (due to a low forage allowance and restricted access to forage, respectively) supplementing concentrates at 0700 resulted in greater forage utilization and intake rate because of increased forage DMI, DM digestibility, and digestible DMI. However, when forage or grazing time was not limiting, supplementing concentrates at 1800 resulted in greater forage utilization because of increased forage DM digestibility.  相似文献   

8.
Animal responses to treatments in grazing experiments frequently remain unexplained because of inadequate pasture and(or) animal measurements. This 2-yr study examined DMI, gastrointestinal tract fill of undigested DM (FILL), rate of digesta passage (ROP), and digesta mean retention time (MRT) for steers grazing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), flaccidgrass (Pennisetum flaccidum Griseb.), and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.). A randomized complete block design was used with two agronomic replicates. Comparisons in June (yr 1) among continuously grazed switchgrass (SG), flaccidgrass (FG), and bermudagrass (BG) or in May (yr 2) among tall fescue (TF), SG, and FG showed similar digesta kinetics, but different DMI (kg.d-1.100 kg BW-1), among these forages within each sampling. In the June evaluation, the DMI of SG and FG were similar (means = 3.09), DMI of bermudagrass (BG) was lowest (2.23), and fecal DM output (FO) was similar among forages. In the May evaluation, DMI by steers grazing SG (3.90) was higher than that by steers grazing FG (2.97); DMI of tall fescue (TF) was intermediate (3.41) but similar to DMI of FG. Differences in DMI were due to differences in diet in vitro DM disappearance (IVDMD) rather than to differences in digesta kinetics. In July (yr 2), the MRT was highest for BG (84 h) and similar for SG and FG (57 h). Steers grazing different forages exhibited similar ROP and FILL, but FO (kg.d-1.100 kg BW-1) among steers varied (.37 for steers fed BG; .74 for steers fed SG and FG).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)  相似文献   

9.
Two early- (EG) and two late-season (LG) corn-residue grazing trials were conducted either from October to December or from December to March (1987 and 1988) using both nonirrigated and irrigated fields. Initial availability, disappearance, and nutritive value of different corn residue components were estimated. Stocking rates were 1.97, 2.20, 1.36, and 2.58 animals/ha for the two EG and LG nonirrigated fields (NIF), respectively, and 3.96 animals/ha for EG irrigated fields (IF). Samples were collected three times throughout the grazing period. In one of the LG trials, samples were collected 30 d before the grazing season began for measurement of weathering damage. Composite samples were analyzed for CP, ADF, ADIN, and in vitro DM (IVDMD) and OM (IVOMD) disappearance. Ruminal escape protein (EP) content was assessed using a Dacron bag technique. Weathering reduced (P less than .02) the amount of leaf blade available by 42% during a period of 30 d before the LG season in Trial 2. Grain, husks, and leaf blades disappeared to the greatest degree (P less than .05) during either grazing season. More than 90% of the grain disappeared during the first 30 d, regardless of grazing season. Overall IVDMD for NIF grain, husks, leaf blades, stems, and cobs across the EG and LG trials were 98.6, 68.4, 42.0, 41.0, and 48.1%, respectively. Corn residue fractions from IF had a lower (P less than .05) IVDMD than did NIF fractions. Grain from NIF was 20% higher (DM basis) in EP than grain from IF (Trial 2). Grain left in the field was the most important source of CP and EP for calves grazing corn residues. Husks and leaf blades were selected by calves; husks were the roughage fraction with the highest nutritive value.  相似文献   

10.
This study investigated the performance of steers grazing rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) (RBFT) compared to nonrhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) in pure stands or when interseeded with endophyte-free tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; TF). Five forage treatments of RBFT, BFT, TF, RBFT+TF, and BFT+TF (four replicate paddocks per treatment) were continuously stocked in spring and fall of 1998 and spring of 1999. Grazing for individual treatments was terminated when pasture mass fell below 900 kg/ha. Average daily gain was greatest (P < 0.10) in pure stands of BFT and RBFT, but total forage production, and thus grazing days, for these treatments was low. Average daily gain for steers grazing BFT+TF and RBFT+TF treatments was not different from (spring and fall 1998) or greater (P < 0.10) (spring 1999) than that for TF. Total forage production of BFT+TF and RBFT+TF was greater (P < 0.10) than that of TF in spring 1998. In fall 1998, BFT+TF produced more (P < 0.10) total forage than either RBFT+TF or TF, and in spring 1999, RBFT+TF had less (P < 0.10) total forage than TF or BFT+TF. Total steer days on mixed pastures were greater (P < 0.10) than that for TF in spring and fall 1998 but not different from those for TF in spring 1999. In all three trials total weight gain/hectare was greater (P < 0.10) for RBFT+TF and BFT+TF than for TF. The RBFT+TF and BFT +TF had greater (P < 0.05) CP than TF in spring and fall 1998 and less (P < 0.05) NDF and ADF in fall 1998. We concluded that either RBFT or BFT could be interseeded with tall fescue to enhance ADG and total steer days.  相似文献   

11.
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of restricting access time to pasture and time of grazing allocation on grazing behaviour, daily dry matter intake (DMI), rumen fermentation, milk production and composition in dairy cows. Twenty-one autumn-calving Holstein cows were assigned to one of the following 3 treatments: providing access to a daily strip of pasture for either 8 h between 07:00 and 15:00 h (T7–15), 4 h between 07:00 and 11:00 h (T7–11), or 4 h between 11:00 and 15:00 h (T11–15). The experimental period consisted of 3 weeks of adaptation and 6 weeks of measurements. Cows were offered a daily herbage allowance of 18 kg DM/cow to ground level, 6.1 kg DM/day of a ground sorghum grain-based supplement and 5.2 kg DM/day of maize silage. Milk yield was greater for cows with 8 h access time to the pasture (25.4 vs. 24.1 for 8 and 4 h access time, respectively). Milk yield was not different between cows that access early (T7–11) or late (T11–15) to the grazing session. Milk protein yield was greater for cows with 8 h access time (0.75 kg/d) vs. 4 h access time treatments (0.72 kg/d). Cows with late access time to grazing in the morning produce more protein (0.74 kg/d) than cows with early access to the pasture (0.70 kg/d). Duration of access had a significant effect on herbage DMI (8.3 vs. 6.6 kg/d, for 8 and 4 h access, respectively), but there was no significant effect of time of grazing allocation. Intakes of concentrate and maize silage DM did not differ between treatments.  相似文献   

12.
In grazing systems, heterogeneous distributions of forage resources and faeces result in localised accumulations of nutrients and parasites (both macroparasites and microparasites), creating trade-offs between the costs of exposure to infestation or infection and the benefits of nutrient intake. Each contact between livestock and faeces in the environment is a potential parasite/pathogen transmission event. Thus, herbivores must make foraging decisions in complex environments which will affect their intake of both nutrients and parasites. However, the pattern of forage and faecal resources in agricultural environments will also be affected by the grazing management system in place. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of grazing management on the risk of infection/infestation to livestock. We used a spatially explicit individual based stochastic foraging model to simulate livestock contact (both grazing and investigative) with faeces in the environment. The model was parameterised to simulate cattle grazing under three types of grazing management: set stock (i.e. where sward growth and cattle intake are in equilibrium in a single field); a two pasture rotation grazing system with increasing number of rotations; and a rotational grazing system with two rotations and increasing subdivisions of the pasture. Overall the amount of cattle contact with faecal-contaminated patches was similar in both set stocking and rotational grazing scenarios, suggesting no difference in the risk of infection or infestation between the different systems. However, the timing and absolute amounts of peak contact varied greatly indicating that different grazing management systems expose livestock to risks of different types of parasites at different times of the grazing season. Intensive rotational systems with small pasture blocks (especially the first grazing period) maximised livestock contact with fresh faeces, and thus exposure to microparasites (e.g. bacterial pathogens). Livestock re-entering pasture blocks in rotational systems and set stocked livestock had the highest contact with old faeces and thus have a greater risk of macroparasite transmission (gastrointestinal nematodes). This study highlights how livestock management affects the highly dynamic interaction between livestock and distributions of parasites in the environment and thus the levels of livestock exposure to parasites and pathogens via the faecal–oral route.  相似文献   

13.
Performance and production of growing cattle (Bos taurus) on Coastal Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pasture are affected by forage allowance, but possible interactions with fertilizer nutrient source (i.e., inorganic vs. organic) and time have not been well described. We evaluated the effects of 3 nutrient sources with equivalent N rates: 1) inorganic, 2) crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) cover crop plus inorganic, and 3) chicken (Gallus gallus) broiler litter, factorially arranged with 2 residual forage mass levels [grazing to maintain high (4,528 +/- 1,803 kg/ha) and low (2,538 +/- 1,264 kg/ha) forage mass], on cattle stocking density, ADG, and BW gain during 5 consecutive summer grazing seasons. Across grazing seasons, residual forage mass and nutrient source both affected response variables, but interactions between these variables were rarely significant (P < or = 0.10). Across grazing seasons and nutrient sources, increasing grazing pressure to maintain a lower forage mass reduced ADG (0.67 vs. 0.88 kg/d; P < 0.001) but increased BW gain/ha (726 vs. 578 kg/ha; P < 0.001) due to greater stocking density (8.7 vs. 5.8 steers/ha, P < 0.001; mean BW of growing Angus steers of 212 kg). Inorganic fertilization led to greater stocking density than other nutrient sources (8.2 vs. 6.8 steers/ha, P < 0.001) because of greater forage production. Stocking density to achieve the 2 targeted forage mass levels was widely different during the initial grazing seasons of the study but nearly similar at the end of 5 yr. Cattle performance tended to decline with time during each grazing season under both residual forage mass levels, perhaps as a result of declining forage quality, because performance was positively associated with grazing season precipitation under high forage mass. Steer BW gain/ha was greater (P < 0.05) with lower forage mass early in the grazing season of all years but not necessarily later in the grazing season. Steer BW gain/ha was also greater (P < 0.05) with a lower forage mass during the early years of the study but was similar during the later years of the study. Significant variations in cattle performance and production with time confirmed the short-term seasonal effects but suggested that the long-term effects may also be of importance in maintaining productivity and environmental quality of grazed pastures.  相似文献   

14.
南方地区水热条件好,草地资源丰富且放牧家畜种类和数量较多,为充分利用当地草地资源,促进草畜平衡,本试验研究了我国西南地区人工草地不同牧压下山羊放牧行为的变化。试验采用野外群体观察法对2种牧压(重牧H和轻牧L)下山羊放牧行为及其参数进行观测记录。结果表明,2种牧压下放牧山羊采食时间都极显著(P<0.01)大于其他行为时间;鸭茅、黑麦草、白三叶的采食时间分别占总采食时间的29.2%,29.0%,25.4%,3种牧草的采食时间之和极显著(P<0.01)大于杂草的采食时间,但3种牧草之间无显著差异(P>0.05);随牧压增加与时间推移,山羊采食速度逐渐降低,但差异不显著(P>0.05);山羊采食速度与口食量呈现负相关的关系。本研究表明,放牧载畜量作为草地管理手段之一,可用来调控草地组成,增加家畜有效采食量,提高山羊放牧系统的经济效益与当地农民收入。  相似文献   

15.
Blood total antioxidant capacity (TAC) has become a key bio‐marker for animal health. Forest‐grazing cattle are known to forage various native plants that have high TAC. This study evaluated differences of plasma TAC between forest‐grazing (FG) and pasture‐grazing cattle (PG). Experiment 1 monitored the plasma TAC levels of 32 Japanese Black cattle. The level in PG did not change throughout the grazing period. However, that in FG, which increased from summer, was significantly higher than that in PG through fall (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, we used nine Japanese Black heifers and investigated their blood antioxidant parameters and the TAC in plants that the cattle consumed in late June and September. The plasma TAC levels in FG were significantly higher than those in PG in both periods (P < 0.05). Plasma levels of lipid peroxidation in FG tended to be lower than that in PG (P = 0.098). Furthermore, the TAC levels in various species of shrubs and trees consumed by FG were higher than those in pasture grasses. Results of this study show that plasma TAC of grazing Japanese Black cattle in forestland increase from summer through fall.  相似文献   

16.
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of rotational and continuous grazing on herbage mass (HM), organic matter digestibility (dOM) and intake (OMI) and live weight gain (LWG) of sheep grazing on the inner Mongolian steppe, China at a stocking rate of 4.5 sheep/ha during the growing season. In the years 2005 and 2006, four 2-ha plots were used of which two were divided into four 0.5 ha paddocks each for rotational grazing, where sheep were moved each 10 days to the next paddock. The dOM was estimated from faecal crude protein concentration and OMI by oral administration of titanium dioxide. Herbage mass was similar in both grazing systems and dOM and OMI were higher (p < 0.05) at continuous grazing than at rotational grazing, but LWG did not differ probably because of extra energy expenditure for grazing and walking in a larger area. The dOM and OMI decreased (p < 0.05) with progress of the growing season and differed between years. Since precipitation during the growing season in both years was lower than the 30 years average which was probably the reason that positive effects of non-grazing periods on herbage regrowth and quality at rotational grazing could not occur, further studies are required in years with average precipitations before a final evaluation of these grazing systems can be made. Moreover, it seems necessary to quantify energy expenditure for physical activity of animals in grazing studies.  相似文献   

17.
Eight mature horses were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to determine the effect of restricted pasture access on dry matter intake rate (DMIR), energy intake, and fecal pH. Horses were randomly assigned to one of four groups (HGRPs), each containing two horses. HGRPs were randomly assigned to one of four treatments consisting of 3, 6, 9, or 24 hours of pasture access, for a period of 7 days. Treatments were switched every 7 days. The 3- and 6-hour groups were fed free choice mature grass hay while not grazing. Daily pasture dry matter intake (DMI) for each HGRP was estimated by calculating the difference between initial herbage mass of the grazing cell before grazing and residual herbage mass after 7 days of grazing. Total dry matter intake was the sum of pasture and hay DMI for the 3- and 6-hour treatments. Fecal pH was measured on day 7 of each period. Response variables were analyzed using analysis of variance for Latin square design. Restricting pasture access decreased mean pasture DMI (P = .02), pasture dietary energy (DE) (P = .02), and fecal pH (P < .001), but increased DMIR (P = .02). Mean total dry matter intake was not different (P = .16) among treatments. In conclusion, restricting pasture access accelerates pasture DMIR and decreases fecal pH, and although restricting pasture access decreases DE intake from pasture, it did not result in a decrease in total DE intake for horses having ad libitum access to hay.  相似文献   

18.
The effect of summer grazing in large Danish dairy herds and certain management characteristics of grazing were studied for their impact on dairy cow mortality. Mortality data (from the Danish Cattle Database) from 391 Danish dairy herds (>100 cows) were combined with information from a questionnaire survey of grazing procedures on these herds in 2008. In all, 131 of the herds were identified as summer grazing and 260 as zero-grazing herds. The mortality was affected by an interaction of summer grazing and milking system. The risk of a cow dying was reduced to 46% in a grazing compared to a zero-grazing herd having automatic milking system. In traditional milking system, mortality was reduced to 75% in grazing compared to zero-grazing herds. Within the grazing herds, the risk of mortality decreased with increasing number of hours on pasture during the season. Free access between barn and pasture was associated with increased cow mortality.  相似文献   

19.
Ten lactating cows were used to determine the effect of feeding non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) supplement before grazing on feed intake and nitrogen (N) utilization throughout a grazing season. The experiment was conducted from June to September. Cows grazed twice a day (2.5 h × 2) under a set stocking system and were fed NFC supplement (1 kg/4 kg of milk yield) 2 h before grazing (PRE) or immediately after grazing (POST). Cows were also fed a grass and corn silage mixture ad libitum. Herbage dry matter intake (DMI) was greater for PRE than for POST throughout the experiment and decreased from June to September. Conversely, silage DMI was less for PRE than for POST throughout the experiment and increased over the grazing season. Consequently, total DMI for PRE did not differ from that for POST. Milk urea-N concentration and urinary urea-N excretion in June did not differ between the treatments, whereas that after July was higher for PRE than for POST. Proportion of urinary N excretion to absorbed N intake in June was lower for PRE than for POST, but that after July was higher for PRE than for POST. Feeding NFC supplement before grazing would improve N utilization when cows eat large amounts of herbage high in N.  相似文献   

20.
The daily BW gain of stocker steers grazing tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbysh. = Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.]-based pastures typically declines during summer. To avoid these declines, in part to mitigate the effects of tall fescue toxicosis, it is commonly advised to move cattle to warm-season forage during this period. A 3-yr (2006, 2007, and 2008) grazing study was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing 25% of the area of a tall fescue/clover (81% endophyte-infected) pasture system with "Ozark" bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] overseeded with clover (Trifolium spp.) to provide summer grazing for stocker steers (TF+BERM). The TF+BERM treatment was compared with a grazing system in which tall fescue/clover (TF) pastures were the only type of forage available for grazing. Our objective was to determine if replacement of 25% of the land area in a fescue system with bermudagrass would increase annual beef production compared with a system based solely on tall fescue. The study was conducted at the Southwest Research and Education Center of the University of Missouri near Mt. Vernon. Each treatment was rotationally stocked with 5 steers (248 ± 19.3 kg) on 1.7 ha. Fertilizer applications were applied at rates recommended for each respective forage species. Total forage production, BW gain per hectare, and season-long ADG of steers was greater (P < 0.06) for TF+BERM than for TF in 2006, but none of these measures differed (P > 0.19) in 2007 or 2008. In vitro true digestibility of pastures was greater (P = 0.01) for TF (84.4%, SEM = 0.64%) compared with TF+BERM (80.6%, SEM = 0.79%), even in summer. The decreased in vitro true digestibility of the bermudagrass pastures likely negated any benefit that animals in TF+BERM had in avoiding the ergot-like alkaloids associated with endophyte-infected tall fescue. Renovating 25% of the pasture system to bermudagrass provided some benefit to the system in years when summertime precipitation was limited (2006) but provided no value in wetter years (2007 and 2008). Although renovating endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures to a warm-season forage is a widely used practice to mitigate tall fescue toxicosis, the benefits of this practice are limited if forage quality of the warm season component is poor.  相似文献   

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